Monday, February 9, 2009

Shall we prepare for the worst?

The hottest day in Melbourne history led to Australia's worst natural disaster. Kerry O'Brien, the host of ABC's 7:30 program, asked Victorian Premier John Brumby whether we should prepare for the worst by changing our fire protection law so that something like this will never happen again. The Premier seemed to be reluctant to say yes and his argument was a disaster at such a scale rarely happens. In the same program Andrew Sullivan, who is leading CSIRO's fire ecology program, mentioned that how difficult to predict and control fire hazards.

When scientists don't know enough to guide us, what shall we do? The strictest fire protection law promises the safest future, but at what cost? Are we ready to bear that cost? Who shall make the decision on the level of protection required to protect public good of fire-free environment?

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